The study mentions the 1% similarity, which is the genetic equivalent of fourth cousins. That's fine, but isn't there a heavy correlation between DNA origin and geography, and another correlation between friendship and geography??
Friends Are Genetically Similar (2014)
101–110 of 207 posts
Re: Friends Are Genetically Similar (2014)
#102People need to realize we are built on hardware that is hundreds of millions of years old. We share a similar hormonal dominance hierarchy system with fucking lobsters. You can't just say it's and expect these things to disappear. Tribalism was important for survival, trusting someone who didn't look like you could mean death and thus was selected for over long periods of time.
And then we became human and started not acting like lobsters. We have intellects, a sense of morality, and a will. Those allow us to drastically curtail what might otherwise be instinctive behaviors. I know there are some determinists who say that free will is illusory and we're as much slaves to our genetics and instincts as lobsters are. But it certainly seems as if, in practice, tribalism (at least the clear-cut…
> And then we became human and started not acting like lobsters.
Thank you for saying this.
As history has shown, it's only too easy to take a scientific research paper and draw some godawful conclusions from it.
We can - and must - do better.
Re: Friends Are Genetically Similar (2014)
#103Earlier quoted context omitted.
We aren't blank slates. Genes inform a lot about who we are.
That vague truism doesn't seem like enough to justify racially- or otherwise genetically-based separatism to me.
The fact that you can't discern between justifying racism and pointing out that racism comes from deep seated biological impulses is pretty scary
Re: Friends Are Genetically Similar (2014)
#104The study mentions the 1% similarity, which is the genetic equivalent of fourth cousins. That's fine, but isn't there a heavy correlation between DNA origin and geography, and another correlation between friendship and geography??
Also friendship and family are tied together. I would think they controlled for these things? I did not read the paper.
Re: Friends Are Genetically Similar (2014)
#105Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's more nuanced than that though. The question is where to draw the line about which behaviors are bad and which ones aren't. Things like murder are obviously bad in most cases and should be suppressed, but social structures are not so clear cut. If there aren't any clear consequences to a instinctual behavior then it's probably better to not suppress it.
There are lots of clear consequences to "tribalist" behavior, especially if we mean the obvious example of racism.
Depends on the behavior and even the consequences are not as "clear" as you make it sound because reactions to behavior can be rather subjective. Context actually matters even tho it's too often ignored these days in favor of generating drama.
It's a factor way too often ignored with this issue: If "hurting people's feelings" will become a crime, then we will see no end of regulating "undesired behaviors" because people get their feelings hurt in the most subjective and unintended ways [0].
So much about "obvious examples of racism".
[0] http://thedmonline.com/greek-life-retreat-ends-abruptly-bias...
Re: Friends Are Genetically Similar (2014)
#106Earlier quoted context omitted.
That vague truism doesn't seem like enough to justify racially- or otherwise genetically-based separatism to me.
The fact that you can't discern between justifying racism and pointing out that racism comes from deep seated biological impulses is pretty scary
How else am I supposed to interpret "is that really so bad?" besides justification?
Re: Friends Are Genetically Similar (2014)
#107marxists are gonna love this /s
Re: Friends Are Genetically Similar (2014)
#108People need to realize we are built on hardware that is hundreds of millions of years old. We share a similar hormonal dominance hierarchy system with fucking lobsters. You can't just say it's and expect these things to disappear. Tribalism was important for survival, trusting someone who didn't look like you could mean death and thus was selected for over long periods of time.
You understand genetic similarity does not mean you look similar or come from the same tribe necessarily? Especially since the age of heavier than air flying machines.
Re: Friends Are Genetically Similar (2014)
#109Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are lots of clear consequences to "tribalist" behavior, especially if we mean the obvious example of racism.
there are countless facets to tribalism, and racism doesn't have to be one of them. But in any case my point is more general in nature and not about tribalism.
It's really hard for me to see how you can treat "genetically similar tribes" and races as unrelated concepts.
Re: Friends Are Genetically Similar (2014)
#110Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are lots of clear consequences to "tribalist" behavior, especially if we mean the obvious example of racism.
Depends on the behavior and even the consequences are not as "clear" as you make it sound because reactions to behavior can be rather subjective. Context actually matters even tho it's too often ignored these days in favor of generating drama. It's a factor way too often ignored with this issue: If "hurting people's feelings" will become a crime, then we will see no end of regulating "undesired behaviors" because peo…
Redlining. School segregation. Unequal economic opportunity. Disproportionate use of force in encounters with police. You get the picture. These are all negative effects of racism.